c.1905–1930 Schönau & Hoffmeister Mould 170 German Doll – 22 Inch

A large German Schönau & Hoffmeister mould 170 doll, with brown sleep eyes, an open mouth, a replacement brown wig and a jointed composition body showing extensive age-related deterioration, dressed in a green and white lace costume.

This large German doll is attributed to Schönau & Hoffmeister of Burggrub, Thuringia, Germany, and dates provisionally from the early twentieth century, approximately 1905–1930. Measuring approximately 580 mm high × 280 mm wide × 160 mm deep (22–23 inches), she bears the distinctive Schönau & Hoffmeister marking on the back of her neck, featuring the letters S and H separated by a five-pointed star containing the initials PB, together with mould number 170 and size designation 3½.

The doll has a finely modelled childlike face with brown glass sleep eyes, delicately painted eyelashes, feathered eyebrows, rosy cheeks and an open mouth showing upper teeth. Her head has a painted finish, although the underlying material requires further examination to establish whether it is bisque, composition or another material. She wears a replacement brown wig styled in soft curls.

Her jointed composition body shows substantial age-related deterioration, including cracking, discolouration, lifting paint and areas of surface loss, particularly around the hands, arms and legs. One hand is considerably more damaged than the other, and cracking has also been recorded around the body. These features illustrate the deterioration that can occur in early composition materials over time.

She is dressed in a green fabric dress with decorative white lace overlay, a bright green sash, white stockings and white shoes. The costume is believed to be a later replacement, with its original association with the doll unconfirmed.

Despite her condition, the doll remains an interesting example of German doll manufacturing, retaining identifiable factory markings and characteristic early twentieth-century facial modelling.

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Features

Measurements: 580 h x 280 w x 160 d mm

Condition: Fair- extensive cracking down seams on the body and body joints

Markings: S – PB within five-pointed star – H / 170 – 3½

Date Note: Date is an estimate based on available research and stylistic features. If you have additional information, please contact us to help update our records.

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Made from the following materials

Country:

Germany

Germany’s toy history includes wooden toys from the Erzgebirge, world-famous Steiff teddy bears, and intricate bisque dolls by companies like Armand Marseille. Modern innovations like Playmobil and Märklin trains ensure Germany’s legacy in the global toy market.

Produced by:

Schönau & Hoffmeister

Produced by:

Schönau & Hoffmeister

Schönau & Hoffmeister was a German porcelain manufacturer established in 1901 by Carl Schönau and Ernst Hoffmeister in Burggrub, Thuringia, Germany. Operating as Porzellanfabrik Burggrub, the company specialised in producing high-quality bisque doll heads during the early twentieth century, supplying both the German and international toy markets. Its dolls were known for their finely modelled facial features, expressive glass eyes, delicately painted eyebrows and eyelashes, and realistic childlike appearances. The company produced a variety of doll designs, including traditional dolly-faced dolls, character dolls and baby dolls, often fitted with jointed composition bodies. Schönau & Hoffmeister dolls are particularly recognisable by their distinctive factory trademark featuring the initials S and H separated by a five-pointed star containing the letters PB, representing Porzellanfabrik Burggrub. Today, surviving examples are valued by collectors for their craftsmanship, distinctive mould designs and contribution to Germany's historic doll-making industry.

Produced by:

Schönau & Hoffmeister

Product Code:

D0044

Dimenions:

580(h)

x 280(w)